answersLogoWhite

0

four types as categorized by the EPA (plus non-petroleum, synthetic)

Class A Oil
  • Class A oil is light and fluid, spreads quickly when spilled and has a strong odor. Class A oil is the most toxic but least persistent of all oils. If the oil soaks into the soil, the effects will be long lasting. In water, class A oils disperse readily but affect aquatic life in the upper water column. Class A oils include high-quality light crude oils as well as refined products such as gasoline and jet fuel. Toxic components of gasoline include benzene, a known carcinogen, and hexane, which can damage nervous systems in humans and animals.
  • Class B Oil
  • Class B oils are known as "non-sticky" oils. They are less toxic than class A oils but more likely to adhere to surfaces. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they can cause long-term contamination. Lower-quality light crude oils and refined products such as kerosene and other heating oils fall into class B. Class B oils leave a film on surfaces, but the film will dilute and disperse if flushed vigorously with water. Class B oils are highly flammable and will burn longer than class A oils.
  • Class C Oil
  • Class C oils are heavy and sticky. While they do not spread as quickly or penetrate sand and soil as easily as lighter oils, class C oils adhere strongly to surfaces. Class C oil does not easily dilute and disperse, making it especially detrimental to wildlife, such as fur-bearing marine mammals and waterfowl. Because it produces such a sticky film, a class C oil spill can severely contaminate intertidal zones, leading to expensive, long-term cleanups. Class C oils include most types of crude oil and bunker B and bunker C fuel oils. Such oils are prone to forming lumps of oil or emulsions.
  • Class D Oil
  • Class D crude oil is solid and has the least toxicity. The biggest environmental concern posed by class D oil occurs if the oil is heated and hardens on a surface, making cleanup nearly impossible. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency points out that as the volatile components of some oils evaporate they may leave behind class D residues.
  • Non-Petroleum Oil
  • Synthetic oils and oils derived from plant or animal fats are regulated by the EPA because they cause contamination if released into the environment. Non-petroleum oils coat wildlife and can cause death due to suffocation or dehydration. Non-petroleum oils are slow to break down and easily penetrate soil, causing long-lasting damage to an affected area. Examples of non-petroleum oil products include cooking fats and synthetic oils.
  • Read more: Types of Oil Spills | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6593214_types-oil-spills.html#ixzz13XGv1nwB

copy-paste =) hope that helped

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?